Providing comprehensive TB care among conflict-affected populations

BACKGROUND Ethiopia is facing significant internal displacement challenge. As of February 2022, the total number of internally displaced people was 4.56 million, out of which 3.85 million (84%) were displaced by conflicts. This has hindered access to facility-based care for TB, and the expanding pool of individuals with untreated TB among the displaced is an opportunity for continued TB transmission among the wider community. Strategies for addressing TB among conflict-affected community are not well defined. METHODS This study aimed at assessing if outreach-based active TB case finding at purposely selected transitional sites and institutions found within conflict-affected areas can offset the impact of conflict on access to facility-based care for TB. RESULTS From a total of 199,398 conflict-affected population groups screened for TB, 10,585 (5%) presumptive and 353 (2%) bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB cases were detected and treated. The yield of TB among the conflict-affected population groups (1,126) and prison inmates (1,111) was nine times higher than the national TB incidence estimate of 126 per 100,000 for the year. CONCLUSION The highest yield of TB among conflict-affected population highlights the need for targeting such groups. .